Naas hosts a competitive Sunday card that features the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle, a race won in 2019 by subsequent Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D’Allen. Check out our runner-by-runner preview of the 2022 renewal, alongside an exclusive 888sport sign up offer.
BetVictor Limestone Lad Hurdle – (1m7f, Grade 3)
1. DARASSO (Joseph O’Brien, Mark Walsh)
Regularly mixes it up over hurdles and fences, bringing his career record to 9-30 when running out a 6l winner of a Navan Grade 2 on penultimate run. Subsequent Hatton’s Grace 4th a far from disappointing run yet he looked under the pump a fair way out there and dropping back to this trip looks no plus on that evidence, particularly conceding weight all round.
2. SAINT FELICIEN (Gordon Elliott, Robbie Power)
High-class pedigree being related to Group 1 winner Ivanhowe and dual Grade 1 winning hurdler Irving. Comfortable winner at Auteuil last Spring, accounting for subsequent Listed winner Gallipoli. Subsequently joined current connections and he made an impressive start to life with the yard when justifying favouritism at Gowran in November. That form looks solid and he is completely unexposed but this is a big ask on third career start, particularly conceding weight.
3. FELIX DESJY (Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell)
Enigmatic 9yo who is without a win since landing a Grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown back in November 2020. Not disgraced in two starts earlier this season, yet he finished 60l behind the leaders in the Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and although this represents a drop-in class, he is simply too risky to advise as a betting proposition on the back of it.
4. PETIT MOUCHOIR (Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy)
Without a win since October 2017 but he has since placed in Grade 1’s over both hurdles and fences. Somewhat unfortunate in the County Hurdle back in March, when a 22/1 second to subsequent Grade 1 winner Belfast Banter, but he has since fallen when looking beaten at Cork and then failing to beat a rival home in last month’s Matheson Hurdle, efforts that make him difficult to recommend.
5. WHISKEY SOUR (Willie Mullins, Paul Townend)
Admirable sort that has gone close on a number of occasions since running out a wide-margin winner of a Leopardstown Grade 1 back in 2017; losing run at 16. Well held in both the Newmarket Cesarewitch, and Naas November Handicap, on the level last year, yet he looked much improved returned to hurdles at Fairyhouse last time when refitted with a tongue tie. Keeps the headgear and the unseasonably firm ground will play to his strengths.
6. WOLF PRINCE (Gavin Cromwell, Sean Flanagan)
Three-time hurdle winner who accounted for subsequent Listed winner Dysart Dynamo at Punchestown in October. Has failed to add to that tally in four subsequent runs, yet his latest third at Punchestown can be upgraded considering that the winner has since gone close in a valuable race at Lingfield whilst the runner-up occupied the same finishing position (at odds of 80/1) in last week’s Galmoy Hurdle. Younger than most but further may be needed nowadays.
BIG RACE VERDICT
Saint Felicien comes into this with the sexy profile having won both starts to date, looking a horse to follow when scoring impressively on stable debut at Gowran in November. This is no easy task on just third career start, however, and at the prices he looks worth taking on with WHISKEY SOUR, who made a promising return to hurdles when fifth at Fairyhouse last time out. The refitted tongue tie applied there is retained, whilst the good ground is also a considerable advantage, so with his yard in form he looks well worth chancing. Wolf Prince has a poor career strike-rate but wasn’t disgraced when third at Punchestown last time and can occupy the same finishing position here.
(1) WHISKEY SOUR
(2) Saint Felicien
(3) Wolf Prince
BACK WHISKEY SOUR HERE AND GET £30 IN FREE BETS + £10 CASINO BONUS
Join 888sport And Get This Bet £10 – Get £40 In Free Bets Offer
Min deposit of £/€10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expires after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time • Withdrawal restrictions & full T&Cs apply